Disclosure: Disney provided me with 4 park hoppers to aid my post.

Disneyland Holidays 2016 is packed with many new features and yet holds on to all the traditional classics: Let’s start with Disneyland’s “It’s a small world”. It is as glorious and beautiful as ever in it’s dazzling illumination. 2016 marks it’s 20th anniversary and it’s not to be missed. Not only does it sparkle in tiny lights it also showcases an animated holiday display every 10 minutes or so. Waiting in line is almost as entertaining as sailing the ride itself. The best time to ride is definitely as the night sets upon the park.

Disneyland during the Holiday season can’t be missed. I enjoy going to the park and walking around in amazement of all the holiday lights with a hot cocoa in one hand and some type of sweet treat in the other; churros, beignet, or gingerbread men. As always, The Haunted mansion is a must see along with the Christmas Fantasy parade and the lit Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle with magical snowfall moments.

Then we hop across the entrance to Disney California Adventure where the new “Festival of Holidays” is celebrating time-honored traditions inspired by diverse cultures with music, dance and craft-making plus traditional foods. I was lucky to get a chance to chat with Susana Tubert (DCA creative director) about the daily lineup of entertainment including nearly 50 performances of nine unique shows with special Disney characters, the popular Disney ¡Viva Navidad! street parties, musical ensemble and dance performances.

I also got a chance to cook with Chef Amy and we made Holiday Kugel. Watch the video below to see how easy it is to make and how we celebrated the classic Jewish dish.

A visit to Disney’s California Adventure during the holidays would not be complete if you didn’t stop in to Santa’s Holiday Visit at Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. My son got a chance to chat up Santa and meet his elf Ginger. A professional photographer on site captured the moment and we were able to download the image when we got home.

As always I am so thankful to be able to kick off the holiday season at the happiest place on earth and it really is. Our faces say it all.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Mamma Chia. All opinions are 100% my own.

Yes, the new is Mamma Chia Energy Beverage is EVERYTHING! I am currently smitten. If you know me personally or read my blog then you know I tend to gravitate towards foods and drinks that are good for me. Okay I have the occasional slip up, but for the most part I’m all about feeding my body healthy stuff. Let me tell you about Mamma Chia Energy Beverage. I was shopping the produce section of Walmart and was told they had recently launched Mamma Chia Energy Beverage and have a promotion with an instant $.55 coupon around the bottle’s neck. I looked over at the cold juice section and found it sitting there. I had never tried it so I decided to buy a few bottles and give it a try. I had read it is the FIRST beverage that combines the power of chia with the clean energy of guayusa (gwhy-you’-sa) resulting in a truly healthful, fulfilling and delicious energy beverage that nourishes your entire body and soul. With a statement that bold I was in.

I brought it home and the first bottle I opened left me in “wow!” I absolutely loved the taste. Over the next couple of days I tried all 4 flavors (Blackberry Blast, Cherry Charge, Raspberry Razz and Grape Power). At that point I decided to look further into the Mamma Chia Energy Beverage… I was pleasantly surprised to find out… Mamma Chia Energy are Non-GMO Verified, gluten-free, Kosher and USDA Certified Organic. It’s made with refreshing organic fruit juices and lightly sweetened, one bottle of Mamma Chia Energy (10 oz.) delivers:

More than an entire day’s worth of Omega-3s (2500mg)

25% of one’s daily fiber (6 grams)

4 grams of complete protein

90mg of natural caffeine (about as much in an 8 oz. cup of coffee)

Twice the antioxidants of a cup of green tea

Calcium, powerful antioxidants and valuable minerals

120 calories

And the founder Janie Hoffman started MammaChia in the kitchen of her small rural farm outside of San Diego. After suffering for almost 20 years with a variety of debilitating autoimmune disorders, it was the amazing chia seed, coupled with other lifestyle changes that finally eradicated her immune disorders and restored her overall health. Isn’t that amazing? Yeah… I’m into it. Get your hands on some ASAP and Enjoy!

Here is a little info and graph to show you the health benefits of Chia Seed: Chia seeds are packed with the richest PLANT-BASED Omega-3s (a vegetarian’s dream). An excellent source of dietary fiber, complete protein and antioxidants.

With that being said now you know why I’m drinking this drink and endorsing it. To you and your health… Cheers!

Calabasita Pizza A La Parrilla could be the pizza you never knew you needed till now, especially since it’s made on Flatout Flatbread! This easy to prepare pizza can be made in a few minutes when you want to feed the family FAST! Lucky for us Flatout makes a pizza crust, so that’s half the battle. You can easily find it in the deli section or bread aisle of your favorite supermarket. Just top with melty cheese and grilled veggies, and you got yourself a winner!

Ingredients:

olive oil

1- zucchini (sliced)

1/2 – onion (sliced)

1/2 – corn on the cob

1 – Flatout Flatbread Pizza Crust Rustic White

2 – oz jack cheese (sliced or grated)

1/2 – tomato (diced)

3 – cilantro sprigs

Directions:

Heat up grill until hot.

Brush zucchini, onion, and corn with olive oil

Lightly brush Flatout Flatbread Pizza Crust with olive oil.

Place vegetables on grill and allow to cook for 5 to 10 minutes or until cooked through with char marks. Corn will cook for 15.

Place Flatout Flatbread on grill. Cook on one side for a minute or so. Then flip it over and place cheese on top. Allow cheese to melt.

Remove from grill.

Place charred zucchini and onion on top of cheese.

Shave corn kernels from cob and sprinkle on top of zucchini and onion along with tomato cubes.

I’m making the best of the end of my summer. I know technically it’s not summer anymore, but I live in California and it sure feels like it. I made this Nectarine, Berry, Jamaica Flatout Flatbread Cobbler with all the delicious fruits I could find at the market. Make it for your family, and watch everyone smile. The best part is I used FLATOUT Flatbread to make this dessert which is high in protein and low in carbs. It makes me feel better knowing I made a healthy dessert for me and mine.

Ingredients for Nectarine, Berry, Jamaica Flatout Flatbread Cobbler:

1/2 – tablespoon butter

1 – Flatout Flatbread (I use the original or Hungry Girl traditional white)

1/8 – cup sugar

1/4 – cup water

1/8 – cup Jamaica (hibiscus) dried petals

1/4 – cup blueberries

1/2 – cup cherries (pitted and cut in half)

1 – large nectarine (pitted and cut into thin wedges)

colored sugar sprinkles

ice cream

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. ( I used my toaster oven since it is such a small baking dish. )

Do you ever want a quick snack? When that happens to me… here’s the answer to all my cravings. These easy to make Strawberry Chipotle Cream Empanadas can be made in minutes and better yet with Flatout Flatbread. You won’t believe how great they taste and how fast you’ll be enjoying a delicious homemade snack while watching your favorite program or chatting with your family and friends. The combo of strawberry and chipotle drizzled over cream cheese is the best thing to ever happen. Promise.

Ingredients for Strawberry Chipotle Cream Empanadas:

1 – Flatout Flatbread Pizza Crust Rustic White

1 – tablespoon cream cheese

1/2 – teaspoon adobo chipotle sauce

1 – teaspoon strawberry jam

egg wash (1 egg and 1 tablespoon water whisked together)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees ( I use my toaster oven )

Using a 2-inch or 3-inch circle cookie cutter, cut out two circles of Flatout flatbread from pizza crust.

(Optional) Cut out a strawberry design in the center of one of the circles.

On one of the Flatout Flatbread circles place cream cheese in the center.

Top the cream cheese with adobo chipotle sauce.

Spread the strawberry jam over the adobo chipotle sauce.

Brush the sides of Flatout Flatbread circle with egg wash. Then brush the entire Flatout Flatbread circle (the one with the cut out) with egg wash.

Place the cut out Flatout Flatbread on top of the other.

With a fork press down along the edges to enclose.

Place empanada on a non-stick baking mat lined cookie sheet and bake for8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Society Culinaria on behalf of Cacique. All opinions and the recipe are my own.

See that smoothie bowl. Does it make you wish you were diving in? It should. I don’t even know how to tell you how dreamy this bowl is and it’s also become my back to school lifesaver. This simple berry banana avocado smoothie bowl can be attained in a few minutes and makes the perfect morning breakfast when time is not on your side. Not to mention it makes you feel like you’re eating the foods of the gods. I probably felt that way since I used Cacique’s yogurt smoothie in Strawberry Banana flavor. Cacique’s yogurt smoothie is rich in protein, a greatsource of calcium and probiotics (25% of Daily Value), and low in calories and cholesterol. For those of you watching your gluten, all Cacique’s yogurts are gluten free with the exception of the three with cereal: Strawberry Banana w/cereal, Prune w/cereal, and Pecan w/cereal. Once I blend my Cacique yogurt smoothie with more berries, fruits, and ice, I like to pour it in a bowl and add more flavors and textures to the top. Me and my family then eat it like a bowl of cereal, or have it as a late night treat. Either way this smoothie bowl is all about feeling better than fine.

Ingredients for berry banana avocado smoothie bowl:

1 – Cacique yogurt smoothie Strawberry Banana

1 – small banana

1 – cup strawberries

1/2 – avocado

1/4 – cup blueberries

1/2 – cup fresh cherries (pitted)

1 – cup ice

Directions:

Place all smoothie ingredients in a nutribullet or blender and blend until smooth.

I love to make mashed potatoes when I have a nice bounty of Idaho potatoes in the house. I usually make mashed potatoes for dinner and whatever is left-over I put in the fridge for a batch of potato flautas the next day. I feel it works best if you use cold mashed potatoes, but you can also make a fresh batch of mashed potatoes and use them right away. Either method is going to give you delicious easy to make potato flautas. Instead of frying my flautas, I bake mine. Baking them eliminates a lot of grease (making them healthier for you), and it keeps the potatoes in place. Once I pull them out of the oven, I serve my potato flautas a top a bed of lettuce, and dress them up in guacamole, crema, and pico de gallo. It’s a beautiful vegetarian meal that takes minutes to make.

Disclosure: This post is compensated by Balance Bar. All opinions are my own.

Up at the crack of dawn to get my boy ready for school, then I’m off to get my daily exercise in. Usually by the time I’m done I have a conference call scheduled for work or a grocery run waiting. My day quickly unravels from there. Yes, I’m that woman that runs around like mad. Always doing something for either work, my son, my mom, my husband, or simply for play. It’s safe to say I’m a lady on the go, with very few moments of idle time. On many occasions I will be out running in the streets or working on a project with a deadline and just need something to snack on especially in the late afternoon when we all want a little treat. I usually keep Balance Bars in my purse to be able to fill up on something sweet yet nutritional that will carry me over till my next solid meal. Balance Baris a snack that allows women to crave freely – It has the flavor we want, but with the nutrition our bodies need. Balance is packed with lean protein and is an excellent source of fiber, each new bar is 190 calories or less. Plus Balance Bar is packaged in regular (reg. has two mini bars in the same packaging…bonus two for one!) and mini bars, which makes it perfect for easy enjoyment to keep up with my on-the-go life. I’m loving all 4 of the new flavors… Chocolate Caramel Peanut Nougat, Chocolate Peppermint Patty, Dark Chocolate Pecan Turtle and Dulce De Leche & Caramel. Yes, you read right… DULCE DE LECHE (they are serving me latin flavors… I like that)! If you’re wondering where you can buy these tasty bars… make your way on over to any Walmart store or buy them off Amazon.com!!! Not only do I have my purse supplied with Balance Bars my Mom does too, and she says to me the other day “Balance is the gateway to help you snack smarter and indulge guilt-free!” There you have it folks, words out of my Momma’s mouth.

What’s in my Purse? Balance Bar!!!

GIVEAWAY ALERT: From July 6th to July 15th, 2016 (midnight PST) enter for the chance to win by leaving a comment below: When is your favorite time of the day to snack on a tasty treat? Giveaway includes: one (1) box of mini Balance Bars!!!

HASH BROWNS LOADED WITH RAJAS HAVE ARRIVED! Yes, They are so fricken delicious I can eat them day and night. None of this would be possible without my beloved Idaho Potato. I have totally ruined the regular hash brown for my family, claiming they will never go back to the old days of having them served plain. Watch the video to see just how easy they are to make… I promise. Also just a side note they are vegan and gluten free but beyond delicious for everyone to enjoy.

Ingredients for Hash Browns Loaded With Rajas:

1 – pasilla chile

2 – idaho potatoes

1/3 – cup onion (sliced)

1/4 – teaspoon chile flakes

1/4- teaspoon oregano

1/2 – teaspoon black pepper

1/2 – teaspoon seasoning salt

1/2 – teaspoon garlic powder

1/3 – vegetable oil

Directions:

Place pasilla chile over and open flame and char on all sides.

Place in an airtight ziplock or container for an hour to stem in it’s own heat.

Carefully peel charred skin away from chile under running water.

Destem and deseed chile and cut into thin strips making the rajas. Place to the side.

Just the thought of this sandwich makes my mouth water. I’ve uploaded all the photos thinking how much I love a good spicy egg salad recipe and how this one sits pretty high on my list of happy things to eat. I love that it is sprinkled with all my favorite flavors: pepitas, jalapeños, and chipotle powder. What makes me extra happy is I have found the ideal companion to my egg salad in Flatout bread. Flatout is a blank canvas that allows the salad to shine in all its eggy glory. Every Flatout bread variety is low in fat, a good source of fiber and of course perfect for wraps, pinwheels and super easy sandwiches. With Flatout less is more…less calories, carbs, time. I can focus all my attention on the spicy egg salad and feel assured the Flatout Foldit is going to work perfectly.